morgan



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D.MORGA N-. SGULLING AND PROPBLLING MECHANISM.

Patented Sept. 14,1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. MORGAN. SGULLING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM.

No. 589,974. Patented Sept. 14,1897.

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NITE Tarts ATENT DECATUR MORGAN, OF \VASIIINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SCULLING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,974, datedSeptember 14, 1897.

Application filed April 8, 1896. Serial N01 586,743. (No model.)

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DECATUR MORGAN, of Washington, District of Columbia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sculling andPropelling Mechanism; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

This invention has relation to the propulsion of marine or othervessels; and it has for its object to propel and accelerate the speed ofvessels either by my particular invention alone or in combination withwhat is known as the screw or other propeller.

A further object of my invention is to utih ize to a maximum thewell-known principle involved in sculling boats and adapt it tomachinery, by means of which an unusual amount of power is exerted ascompared with a minimum amount of cost.

A further object is to so construct, locate, and arrange the paddles orblades of my scullin g apparatus as to compel or force the Water againstthe screw-propeller that its grip in the water is increased andintensified;

My invention consists in mounting sculling-blades and operating them insuch manner as to produce by the same stroke the action and power of theoar while rowing and of the paddle or blade while sculling.

It further consists in the arrangement of the sculling-blades in suchmanner that the rocking motion ordinarily produced by sculling isneutralized,by which one blade counteracts the force of the other,and bytheir opposite resistance additional power is imparted to the forwardmovement of the vessel.

The invention further consists in the various parts and mechanismshereinafter more fully described, and pointed outin the claims.

. It is Well known in thepractice of propelling vessels that an eddy isformed in the wake of the ship or immediately at the stern thereof, andparticularly when the ship or boat is going at a rapid rate of speed,and this eddy is produced by the rapid and forcible displacement of thewater, and before the boils or agitates the water in proximity of theeddy, and, by the combined action of the displacement of the water bythe ship and the boiling and churning action of the propeller the wateris rendered loose and therefore the propeller-blades cannot take holdand act as if the water were solid. Therefore to avoid these objectionsor to overcome them as far as possible are further objects of myinvention.

Persons familiar with theaction of sculling are aware that the bladedoes not agitate, loosen, or churn the water, but acts oppositely andtravels in a circuitous track, forcing the water from it on the Wedge orscrew principle againstthe propeller, the sculling-blades being placedin front of the screw-propeller in such position and proximity that thewater forced by the scullin g-blades must necessarily come incontactwith the propeller-blades, and thus the evil effects of the churning andloosening is largely prevented.

The sculling-blades are preferably placed at about an incline offorty-five degrees, and in propelling or sculling motion they travelabout one-third the are or revolution of a circle. The action offeathering the blade is done by the twist imparted by the levers, inwhich there are four motions: first, by the oscillating arms or levers;second, by the paddle-shaft; third, by the action of the sleeve, and,fourth, by the action of the union-bearing. Close observation willdiscern that there is a sort of human arm and wrist movement. Thethrowof the paddleblade is greater than that imparted by the hand,theblade taking a Wider sweep or range. After the blade passes a shortdistance to one side of its center and having performed its scullingaction it then takes on the pushing or driving action of the oar, sothat in its sweep there is comparatively no dead-center, because theblade is cutting the Water diagonally at an angle proportionate to thespeed of the vessel. The sweep of the paddle-blade may be controlled bythe fulcrum and the length of the shaft and its operating-pitman,

and the same may be said of its depth in the water. The paddle-shaft andthe sleeve travel in opposite directions, which produce the wristaction.

The paddle-blade may have a curved or twisted face, or may be aspoon-blade, and at such sweep or pitch as may be desired, and itsoscillation may be increased or diminished, as may best subserve itspurpose, the sweep being controlled by the length of the rockshaft andthe change of its fulcrum.

In the drawings the same letters of reference indicate like parts in thedifferent figures, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional plan viewon a central line just inside the vessel near its stern. Fig. 2 is acentral vertical section. Fig. 3 shows the paddle working shaft andbifurcated clamps for holding the paddle, also the sleeve inlongitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of one form of swivel oruniversal joint, the paddle-shaft, and sleeve. Fig. 5 is a view ofanother form or modification of swivel. Fig. 6 is an end view of theoscillating arms or levers, showing in dotted lines their limit ofmovement.

A is the shell or stern portion of a ship, and B the stanchion orcross-beam. C is the propeller-shaft, and D the propeller. E is thepedestal block for the support of the compound crank-shaft that operatesthe paddle.

G is the paddle-shaft, and a a the cranks. The stern end of the shaft Gis journaled in the pedestal E, which will be provided with suitablebraces or stays. b b are the pitmen or connecting rods, and c c are theoscillating arms or levers. d d are pintles or rods upon which theoscillating arms or levers work.

It will be observed, as shown in Fig. 6, that the pintles clform thejournal bearing or pivot upon which the oscillating arms or leversoperate. It will also be observed that the throw or sweep of the paddlesmay be regulated by changing the fulcrum in the oscillating arms orlevers and also the dip of the paddles or their depth in the water.

f f are crank-pins,which connect the pitmen to the oscillating arms orlevers.

g g are the paddles or blades, which may be of any approved design.

H H are the sleeves, through which the paddle-shafts I work, and K isthe ball or other swivel-joint.

In operation the speed of the vessel is accelerated by means of thepaddles, which are oscillated by the paddle-shaft and oscillating sleevesurrounding the same, the said sleeve and shaft having an independentaction in relation to each other, but both receiving power from anoscillating arm connected to the crank-shaft, which is moved by suitablemotive power. These several parts connected and arranged impart a wristand arm motion as used in sculling.

The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the position of the flat paddle whenabout to take its return stroke. When twin screws are used in a ship,the paddle-blades are correspondingly arranged.

It will be understood that the usual tight joints are made where thepaddles pass through the shell of the vessel, and while Fig. 1 showstwisted paddles any approved forms may be used.

The journal or pivot rod d, that passes through the oscillating arms orlevers c, with the sleeve and universal joint and shaft I, perform avery peculiar motion and is a very important part of my invention.

Then the dip of the paddle is to be altered, the pin i and the end ofshaft Iwill be changed to a hole in the oscillating arm or lever, bywhich the sweep as well as the dip will be altered to a greater or lessdegree. It is preferable to keep the ends of the paddles in as closeproximity to the propeller as possible, as they drive the water to thepropeller and increase its solidity.

It will be observed that many slight changes may be made in the forms,constructions, and arrangements of the parts described without departingfrom the spirit and scope of myinvention. Hence I do not wish to limitmyself to the exact construction herein set forth, but consider myselfentitled to all such changes as fall within the spirit and scope of myin vention.

WVhat I claim is 1. An apparatus for accelerating the speed of vesselsby means of paddles, consisting-of the oscillating paddle-shaft, anoscillating sleeve surrounding the same, the sleeve and shaft havingindependent working bearings in relation to each other, the universaljoin-t and the connected oscillating arm operated by suitable power, asset forth.

2. In an apparatus for accelerating the speed of vessels,the combinationof the crankshaft, the oscillating arm or lever, a pitmanrod connectingsaid crank and arm, said arm being journaled near its center andadjustably connected to the paddle-shaft, the paddle and theswivel-bearing, the parts being adapted to regulate the sweep and dip ofthe paddles as set forth.

3. The combination in an apparatus for accelerating the speed of vesselscomprising the crank-shaft, the oscillating arm or lever, connecting-rodconnecting the crank and arm, the paddle-shaft connected to said arm,the latter connection being adjustable to raise and lower thepaddle-shaft, the sleeve surrounding said shaft, the universal jointcarrying said sleeve, all arranged for joint operation, substantially asset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

DECATUR MORGAN.

Witnesses:

O. E. DUFFY, E. O. DUFFY.

